| Author: | | New Member Registered: February, 2016 Posts: 4
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 21, 2022 | Recommended | Price: $30.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Still to try it out, but so far very impressed! | | Cons: | Heavy, but I like the feel of it. | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Fujifilm X-E2
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I've been looking to try this lens for a long time, after having used and enjoyed a few Pentax primes in the past. Mainly the Takumar 55 f1.8, Pentax-M 50 f1.7, Pentax-M 28 f3.5 and Pentax-M 135 f3.5.
Finally got an excellent condition copy off eBay for 45 EUR delivered, yay! I'm using a Fujifilm X-E2, and was looking for decent portrait lens. Have been using the M 50 f1.7, which I love, but felt that maybe I could use a bit of range versatility.
So, here is a quick comparison to the praised M 50mm f1.7. Both at 50mm, tested at f2.8 and f8, ISO 200, on a tripod. Overall, I'm very impressed, specially with the contrast and sharpness wide open.
35-70 f2.8:
https://ibb.co/F5swL8w
50 f2.8:
https://ibb.co/rdWgjzB
35-70 f8:
https://ibb.co/4SPJSbz
50 f8:
https://ibb.co/1ZjQVY6 | | | | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2009 Location: London Posts: 2 | | Review Date: April 19, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $19.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Image quality at 2.8, Push-pull design, Compactness at 70mm | | Cons: | Extends a fair bit at 35mm | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
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SMC Pentax-M 35-70mm 2.8-3.5
Found one of these on eBay battered and apparently unwanted. The filter ring was dented and the glass had a few chips. Got it for Fourteen British Pounds.
I bought it thinking I'd try it before buying one in better condition. When it arrived I was pleased to see it was smaller than pictures and reviews suggested. Its aforementioned imperfections painted a picture of someone who had loved and trusted it, took it everywhere and probably accidentally dropped it down the side of a mountain. This made me think it had to be a very special lens.
As it turns out my intuition was right. It is one of those lenses I hope never to sell. Straight from the widest aperture at 2.8 images are crisp with lively colours and delightful bokeh. I tried the Tamron 35-80 01A but it simply could not compete with the Pentax. When I review my photos I like to know what aperture was used. Sadly, without an 'A' setting this Pentax does not offer that exif data.
Sold my FA 77mm 1.8 Limited and don't miss it. If I don't have my landscape lens with me that's okay. If I'm without the D-FA 50mm 2.8 or one of the Tamron 90mm I'm also fine. This lens has my full confidence.
By the way I knocked out the filter ring and now it takes a hood.
| | | | | New Member Registered: March, 2019 Posts: 2 | | Review Date: August 22, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $75.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | build quality, image quality, fastest aperture of 2.8 | | Cons: | weight, push pull zoom design | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 6
Value: 8
Camera Used: Sony a6000
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Lets not beat around the bush, this is a heavy lens. It definitely unbalances my Sony a6000 when I use it. Because of its old push pull design, when at 35mm, the lens is very long. The handling isn't fantastic as a result.
On the plus side, the lens build quality is superb, it is built like a tank. The sharpness, even wide open, contrast and colours are lovely and warm. Is it my favourite 35-70mm zoom lens? No it isn't. the Minolta md 35-70mm f3.5 has it beaten because it is lighter by 100g, has a 1:4 macro function and a more modern 'twist to zoom' design. Still, the image quality takes some beating on this.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: June, 2013 Location: Utrecht Posts: 197
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 14, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Well build, compact, performs pretty well on Full Frame | | Cons: | Bit heavy | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 10
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I bought this lens years ago but I never understood why it rated so high. My pictures often were dull. Until I realized the infinity focus was not correct. So I removed the stopper under the rubber ring and now I can focus beyond infinity.This lens is a bit weak full open, but one stop down it starts to perform nice,the best results F8-F11. It is really sharp with good corners and almost no aberrations. As with most K, A & M lenses, expanding the histogram and tweaking the contrast finishes the job. Direct sunlight in the front lens from beside results in nice red halos, due to the typical red coatings Pentax used that period. Pictures taken with K1-ii. Recommended!
 | | | | | | | New Member Registered: March, 2019 Posts: 1 | | Review Date: March 5, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $10.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | sharp, solid build, no lens flaire, easy to use. | | Cons: | slightly dificult to focus | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: A5100
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a great lens,
i bought it, 3d printed an adapter, slaped it on my A5100, perfection!!! i use the smallest camera in the sony alpha line so its not a camera with a lens but a huge lens with a point and shoot atached. the image quality is amazing, and great over all. the 2 teeny tiny drawbacks are that it needs to be about 100cm away from the focus point and that its takes a while to get used to the forward/back zoom in combination with a small camera like the 5100 (or it could be me becouse im 6'9 and have huge hands)
everyone should have one of these!
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: December, 2018 Location: California Posts: 106
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 30, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $56.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, Good build, Smooth focusing | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-3
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This is my main work horse for photography, although it's a tad heavy the image quality is superb.
 | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: December, 2014 Location: Colorado Posts: 497
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 25, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp | | Cons: | A bit heavy | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: A7, K1
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If you do not mind manual focusing and compromise on the wide-angles (not as wide as 24-28mm), this lens is great to have, because it is almost as sharp as the much more expensive f2.8 zooms.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: May, 2015 Location: Hampshire Posts: 892
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 22, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp and quite fast. | | Cons: | Not an "A" lens or better still AF | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-5
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I got rather lucky with this lens, affixed to a K1000 and listed on Ebay with little information apart from the fact that the camera worked and that the lens was in good condition. A quick look through the lens reviews on the forum identified the lens, got my curiosity going and a bid of a little less than the $91 showing as the average price for this lens on the reviews, got both.
My current favourite manual small zoom is a Tamron SP 35-80 (model 01A) adaptall so a quick comparison with it was in order. I would rate both around equal for images (without pixel peeping) with the following differences (with my copies anyway.....)
The Pentax seems better built with a smaller filter thread....and is a Pentax! Changing focal length is very smooth in operation.
The Tamron has the advantage of a P-KA mount but is stiff when changing focal length.
The Tamron has closer focussing, a larger filter thread and a little more at the long end.
I have some trouble focussing by eye at the shorter end on both so focus confirmation is a boon there. Otherwise, apart from maybe wishing they were AF and with more range, I am probably equally happy with using both....and the Pentax-F 35-70 I have.
Great manual lens.
| | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2016 Posts: 12 | | Review Date: December 15, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $15.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpnes,size, | | Cons: | non | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K5, Pentax ME.
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I got this lens for about nothing. Very usefull zoom range. Sharp even at 2,8. If you can get it, run to buy.
| | | | | New Member Registered: January, 2014 Location: Europe Posts: 4 | | Review Date: May 20, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $65.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, Very nice balance on Canon 6d, fantastic handling, | | Cons: | none for my personal taste | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: Canon 6d
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I really love this lens, on the 6d it's rather hard to focus trough the viewfinder, but i think that's rather due to my damaged eyes...
i love the contrast and overall picture i get out of this lens, it gives me a great pleasure to shoot with it...
Considering the fact that i regularly use Canon L glass and don't like some of them i guess i can say i'm rather picky
Can definitely recommend it !
 | | | | | Forum Member Registered: December, 2013 Posts: 81
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 18, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $125.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, color redention, easy to use (one touch zoom), build quality | | Cons: | (maybe) variable aperture?, a little bit expensive (but worth every penny) | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 8
Camera Used: Pentax K5
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I only have good things to say about this lens:
- it produces VERY SHARP images, with strong colors and contrast, even straight out of camera; comparable to a prime for all the range;
- I usually don't find it to be slow, but some people can complain about this, without testing this lens in a proper way;
- the one-touch-zoom does wonders if used right;
- one of my finest lenses, along with some Pentax-M primes (50mm 1.4, 50mm 1.7, 28 2.8) and some others primes;
- long focusing distance can be a little bit of pain sometimes.
Overall i can definitely RECOMEND this lens, and I'll buy it once again!
And one more thing: this lens in sharp 
Some photos:
 BMW i3 by Florin Radu, on Flickr
 Little man at work by Florin Radu, on Flickr
 Sunset by Florin Radu, on Flickr
| | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: July, 2010 Location: NW Ohio Posts: 2,066 | | Review Date: February 22, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $65.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Everything, color, sharpness, image quality, etc | | Cons: | Minimum focus distance | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-30
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I'm typically not a zoom person but I absolutely love this lens. It's more like a series of primes that a zoom, sharp at every focal length with great color rendition and many other superlatives. The lens has been adequately addressed in prior reviews so I wouldn't repeat what others have said. I'll just leave you with this simple phrase: A picture is worth a thousand words.
 | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: March, 2008 Location: Oslo Posts: 309
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 5, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, contrast, build quality | | Cons: | One-touch handling (to taste), min. focus distance (1m) | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 6
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-5 II
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This is a very nice lens. Build quality is superb, perhaps even a tad better than most other M lenses I've tried. Judging from prices found in Popular Photography of 1984, it was not a cheap lens. That may explain why the build quality is "one step above", though it could also be that my copy could be new from the box.
Fair enough, the focal range is not too useful on APS-C, and the one-touch operation can be bothersome. However, it has very nice image quality.
The contrast is superb, and the sharpness, wide-open, is nothing short of amazing
It's on par or better than my 50-150 at 50 and 70mm.
It's also, for reasons unknown to me, on par with my DA40@f/3.5 at 40mm wide-open. Comparing with the A35-105/3.5 is no contest. The M-zoom is better throughout it's range, though more extensive testing will have to determine how the colours look compared to each other. Aside from sharpness, I seem to prefer pictures from this lens over the "stack of primes" though. Given the A-lens' reputation, you'd think my copy was bad, complicated design and all. I happen to have two A35-105 copies, however, both of which test similar.
Minimum focus distance is the main drawback, aside from inherent problems with manual zoom at the wide end*. One metre is nothing to brag about, though I am going to try this lens with a 250D closeup-lens soon. Should be an interesting combination. The lens seems to be parfocal, at least from 1,5m to infinity.
Flare seems to be handled quite allright for an old zoom. There's some, but seems to be centered around the light source (=the sun), with some very small flare at the opposite end of the frame. There is a fair bit of chromatic aberration in high-contrast edges at the wide end, and it sticks even when stopped down.
Updates Oct. 2015.
* I've always found it difficult to focus 35mm lenses on my DSLRs, they're probably in a range where it's difficult to judge the focus in viewfinder/find something obvious to lock focus on, yet the DOF is too shallow to allow errors | | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2015 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 7 | | Review Date: June 19, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Build, Optical Quality, Sharp, 58mm filter | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K3
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I was looking for a pentax zoom, this one is awesome. I like a lens with weight to help stabilize the shot. So the weight doesn't bother me much. It is a larger heavy lens.
I was shooting with the 28mm f2 k mount (Zeiss design), I found this lens much sharper. My 28mm may be soft.
I am definitely getting a second copy.
| | | | | New Member Registered: May, 2013 Location: Jakarta Posts: 2
1 user found this helpful
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;)
;)
